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FROST DPS BUILD

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Frost DPS


Last updated: Update 48 - 6th December 2025

This is a thematic build where I'm not always choosing the most optimal option

A thematic build focused entirely on dealing Frost damage.


SUBCLASSING


Combination

Warden - Winter's Embrace

Warden - Winter's Embrace

Arcanist - Herald of the Tome

Arcanist - Herald of the Tome

Nightblade - Assassination

Nightblade - Assassination

Base Class

This build can use either Warden, Arcanist or Nightblade as your base class


SKILL SETUPS


Base Setup

A base setup that will work for most situations and which should be your starting point when making situational setups

Soul Burst Grimoire Fightersguild Tentacular Dread Deadly Cloak Ulfsild's Contingency Soul Harvest
Winters Revenge Arctic Blast Barbed Trap Stampede Recuperative Treatise Northern Storm
Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Wield Soul Slot 1: Winter's Revenge
Slot 2: Torchbearer Slot 2: Arctic Blast
Slot 3: Tentacular Dread Slot 3: Barbed Trap
Slot 4: Deadly Cloak Slot 4: Stampede
Slot 5: Ulfsild's Contingency Slot 5: Recuperative Treatise
Ultimate: Soul Harvest Ultimate: Northern Storm
INFO arrow_down
SITUATIONAL arrow_down
ROTATION arrow_down

Final Setups

A few examples of final setups you could end up with after applying the situational skills to the base setup

Example of a setup you can use for trash packs

Camouflaged Hunter Grimoire Fightersguild Tentacular Dread Trample Ulfsild's Contingency Soul Harvest
Winters Revenge Arctic Blast Proximity Detonation Stampede Recuperative Treatise Northern Storm
Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Camouflaged Hunter Slot 1: Winter's Revenge
Slot 2: Torchbearer Slot 2: Arctic Blast
Slot 3: Tentacular Dread Slot 3: Proximity Detonation
Slot 4: Trample Slot 4: Stampede
Slot 5: Ulfsild's Contingency Slot 5: Recuperative Treatise
Ultimate: Soul Harvest Ultimate: Northern Storm

EXPLANATION:


PASSIVES

There are no passives you need to skip with this build, unless you're using an Ice Staff

  • Class
  • Weapon
  • Armor
  • Guild
  • Alliance War
  • Racial
  • Craft

Class - Winter's Embrace

Glacial PresenceGlacial Presence - High Priority

Frozen ArmorFrozen Armor - Medium Priority

Icy AuraIcy Aura - Low Priority

Piercing ColdPiercing Cold - High Priority


GEAR


Base Setup

A base setup that will work for most situations and which should be your starting point when making situational setups

Switching gear for trash packs isn't worth it unless you're using gear-swap addons

Default setup

Gear Slot Set Weight/Type Trait Enchantment
Head

Head

IceheartIceheart Medium DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Shoulders

Shoulders

IceheartIceheart Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Chest

Chest

Whorl of the DepthsWhorl of the Depths Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Hands

Hands

Whorl of the DepthsWhorl of the Depths Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Belt

Belt

Whorl of the DepthsWhorl of the Depths Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Legs

Legs

Whorl of the DepthsWhorl of the Depths Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Feet

Boots

Whorl of the DepthsWhorl of the Depths Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Neck

Necklace

FrostbiteFrostbite Jewelry InfusedInfused Increase Magical HarmIncrease Magical Harm
Ring

Ring

FrostbiteFrostbite Jewelry InfusedInfused Increase Magical HarmIncrease Magical Harm
Ring

Ring

FrostbiteFrostbite Jewelry InfusedInfused Increase Magical HarmIncrease Magical Harm
Mainhand

Frontbar Main Hand

FrostbiteFrostbite Dagger ChargedCharged FlameFlame
Mainhand

Frontbar Off Hand

FrostbiteFrostbite Dagger ChargedCharged PoisonPoison
Mainhand

Backbar Main Hand

Merciless ChargeMerciless Charge Greatsword InfusedInfused FrostFrost

SITUATIONAL arrow_down
ALTERNATIVE arrow_down
ADDITIONAL INFO arrow_down

Final Setups

A few examples of final setups you could end up with after applying situational rules to the base setup

This is the crafted gear setup you can start with

Gear Slot Set Weight/Type Trait Enchantment
Head

Head

Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Medium DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Shoulders

Shoulders

Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Chest

Chest

Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Hands

Hands

Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Belt

Belt

Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Legs

Legs

Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Feet

Boots

Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Light DivinesDivines MagickaMagicka
Neck

Necklace

Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Jewelry InfusedInfused Increase Magical HarmIncrease Magical Harm
Ring

Ring

Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Jewelry InfusedInfused Increase Magical HarmIncrease Magical Harm
Ring

Ring

Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Jewelry InfusedInfused Increase Magical HarmIncrease Magical Harm
Mainhand

Frontbar Main Hand

Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Dagger ChargedCharged FlameFlame
Mainhand

Frontbar Off Hand

Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Dagger ChargedCharged PoisonPoison
Mainhand

Backbar Main Hand

Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Greatsword InfusedInfused FrostFrost

CHAMPION POINTS

Warfare

Fitness

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • Replace Fighting FinesseFighting Finesse with ExploiterExploiter if your supports are providing enough Critical Damage for you to reach the 125% cap without Fighting FinesseFighting Finesse
  • You can use CelerityCelerity in fights where you need more movement speed. Replace the Champion Point which is least useful for that fight, for example replace Siphoning SpellsSiphoning Spells if a certain fight has no adds you could kill for Magicka

RACE

The difference between best and worst race is about 5% of DPS and there is no content in the entire game that you'd be blocked from completing because of choosing a bad race.

Best race for 12-man content - High Elf, Dark Elf

Best race for 4-man content - Khajiit

Other decent options: Orc, Breton


MUNDUS

You should use The ThiefThe Thief Mundus, which increases your Critical Chance


ATTRIBUTES

HEALTH

0

STAMINA

0

MAGICKA

64

You should always put all 64 attribute points into Magicka


FOOD


POTIONS

Tri-Stat Potion

Most of the time you should use Tri-Stat potions (Restore Health, Restore Stamina, Restore Magicka). They'll greatly improve your sustain. You can craft them by combining ColumbineColumbine, BuglossBugloss and Mountain's FlowerMountain's Flower.

Heroism Potion

When using a Destruction Staff, you can also use Heroism Potions (Restore Stamina, Restore Magicka, Heroism) which can provide a 100% uptime on Minor Heroism buff which generates ultimate, but they're expensive because they're crafted by combining Dragon RheumDragon Rheum, Dragon's BloodDragon's Blood and ColumbineColumbine.


PARSE

Combat Metrics screenshot of the 125k parse

CMX Parse CMX Setup

Recording of the 125k parse

OTHER PARSES

Inferno Staff - 123k DPS

CMX Screenshot CMX Screenshot

GAMEPLAY

Logs of Veteran Trials and Dungeons I've finished using this build

Trials

Veteran Lucent Citadel - https://www.esologs.com/reports/dHbLYPcCnXy6TjMp

Veteran Kyne's Aegis - https://www.esologs.com/reports/GHMq8gvnaBty7KFW


Dungeons

Veteran Hard Mode Scalecaller Peak - https://www.esologs.com/reports/1hNx4BnacbQJkFXt

Veteran Hard Mode Stone Garden - https://www.esologs.com/reports/y9K8v2mV3n7fzR1A



THANKS FOR READING

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